Not Quite White Christmas

Hey everyone!

This week was real weird. Lots of cool stuff happened, but it's like we cut up our schedule and threw it in the air, then let a dog glue it back together.

On Monday we still emailed like normal, but didn't do much else p-day stuff because we had the temple trip on Wednesday. Which was awesome! We got up super early in the morning so we could beat the traffic in LA (which only sorta worked, the city DOES NOT SLEEP) and get to the earliest session. Which was 30 minutes later than we thought it was. So things worked out! It was awesome, the LA temple is so stunning. "Awesome" in the literal sense of inspiring awe is the only word I can think of. Is it just me though, or do all the temples smell the same inside?

Anyway, since a member took us and it was p-day, we drove through some of LA to see what it looks like. We got to see the ocean! What an incredible thing. I almost forgot there was that much water in the world! Speaking of water, it rained a ton the next couple of days. At least a ton for here. There's still water running down a couple of the streets. It's crazy. Because of all the dirt roads, our car is really dirty now. Thank goodness it's "wash the car day"

Elder Puyogao skyped on Saturday because of the time zone difference. While he did so I played taboo with the members there. Not to brag, but I cleaned house.

On Sunday we opened all our presents and stuff, then went to 45 minute sacrament meeting. It was pretty ordinary. I got to skype home later that day though! It was so good to see my family. It wasn't stressful and I didn't cry or anything, it was actually really peaceful and relaxing. They're a good fam.

Our zone leaders texted out goals a couple days this week. They were all "Let's find 14 new investigators as a zone today!" which is two per companionship. Everytime they did that, we did incredible! We found four one day, all in different places! One of them was the father of the Thompson family, which is so good. It feels at their house like they're already members or something, haha. It's great.

We also went on exchanges with the zone leaders! Knocking doors in the dark and rain makes me feel like a stereotypical missionary ;P It was good though! We knocked on this door that we thought was a referral, but I don't think it was actually the right house, but the dad invited us in and we taught him and his two kids! They really seemed to like what we said, and we testified like never before. It was so good, the spirit was so strong.

Thanks for all the presents and cards and prayers!
Elder Adams


All the candy and stuff we got for Christmas,
A district picture from last transfer!
And a picture of Elder Puyogao from our hike. Now you can't say I never send pictures!

Hike

Hey all!

Elder Puyogao is great! We've been finding like crazy this week! Seriously, it's been incredible. He might be going home soon, but he's determined to do the most he possibly can while he's here.

Almost everyone we've taught is black too. What a coincidence. There's this super cool young family we found, the Thompsons. Their kids are so funny. One is nine, one is four, and one is three months old. They couldn't come to church this week because of a prior commitment, but hey! Never a better day to come to church than on Christmas!

Pretty sure we still have to work on Christmas. There's only so much harassing members that we want to do, y'know? But it's cool. At least I get to skype home! That's real swell.

This morning we went on a hike with one of our investigators. He's hilarious. He teaches spanish at the college here and was kinda drunk when we met him, but he invited us to go hiking with him?? So we said yeah and had a cool hike and gospel discussion while doing so! It was a good start to the day.

This coming week we get to go to the temple! It's gonna be so cool. I miss being able to go to the temple.

Christmas is coming! We've got our apartment all decked out with... A tinfoil star. At least it's traditional! We actually have a lot of Christmas lights, too.

Hope all of you have a merry Christmas!
Elder Adams

grandpa

Transfers are happening!

Elder Egbers is leaving, but we already knew that for a couple weeks. Every companionship in the zone is getting shuffled somehow. I'm staying here in somerset and getting Elder Puyogao! He trained my trainer, and this is his last transfer! So this will certainly be an interesting transfer.

Another elder in our apartment complex had to go home, so after driving him up to Bakersfield we've been in a tripan with his companion. It's too many people! I feel like I'm in a mob at doors! But driving up to Bakersfield was scary as heck! I drove a route I'd never driven myself, at night, in the rain and fog. California drivers and roads are NOT meant for rain. Ick.

Otherwise, it's been another slow week. We've been doing what we can, though. Lots of service! Tons and tons of service. It feels good to be able to help others at Christmastime.

Thank you for supporting us!
Elder Adams

12-12-16

Slow week

Sorry it's been a slow week so I don't have much to say!

I will say though, that I learned something cool about miracles this week. When we're giving it all we can and
get discouraged, get tired, don't want to keep going- we need to keep going. When we do that in faith, God
 will start opening doors we didn't know were there. Miracles will start happening. Even if they're small
 miracles.

We did have some fun exchanges this week though! Elder Jones and I went to a italian ice place on
 main street and a guy there was telling us about how you can see angels and demons on youtube.
 like okay dude. We also met a guy who was like "hey check out these scriptures, don't they
 seem contrary to what you guys focus on?"He just didn't understand them, but I realized that
 even if I didn't understand them too, I still wouldn't be shaken
 because my testimony is based on a couple things, including that this church is the true
 church, has been for the entire time it has been on earth, and will continue to be forever.
 Which is nice to know.

Thanks for supporting your local and faraway missionaries! 

Elder Adams

P.S. from mom--

His companion has been sick so the last two weeks he didn't write a general email
 to everyone because
 he just didn't feel he had anything to report.

Elder Bednar!

Hey everybody!

So this week was another slow week for us because we had lots of other things going on, BUT! We got to hear inspired counsel from a prophet, seer, and revelator, Elder Bednar of the quorum of the twelve! Seriously he was so cool. I may someday forget what he said, but I will never forget how he taught and how I felt. He mostly just asked us questions and let us ask questions, which sometimes he would answer with more questions. It was an awesome experience, and I hope to be able to teach even a little bit like him.

He also told us that iPads don't matter. Pssh.

Otherwise, Elder Egbers was sick so we didn't get to do too much this week. Pretty sure I'm just cursed, because every companion I have gets sick. But hey, I'm already used to it.

Patty brought a friend to church! A friend we'd taught before, actually! And who watched general conference! Which means she's been to church twice! So I guess we do actually have an investigator who is doing well! Thank goodness she actually lives in our area.

Have a great week!

Elder Adams


Oh yeah forgot some stuff.

So the Lancaster elders are getting scattered as chaff before the wind, I mean emergency transferred to replace some other elders. So now Elder Egbers is a relief society president. And I'm just kinda... here.
(what Hayden means is that his companion is the district leader and now the two of them are the only elders in the district.  The rest are sister missionaries.)

Short email!

Sorry it's been a slow week so I don't have much to say!

I will say though, that I learned something cool about miracles this week. When we're giving it all we can and get discouraged, get tired, don't want to keep going- we need to keep going. When we do that in faith, God will start opening doors we didn't know were there. Miracles will start happening. Even if they're small miracles.

We did have some fun exchanges this week though! Elder Jones and I went to a italian ice place on main street and a guy there was telling us about how you can see angels and demons on youtube. like okay dude. We also met a guy who was like "hey check out these scriptures, don't they seem contrary to what you guys focus on?" He just didn't understand them, but I realized that even if I didn't understand them too, I still wouldn't be shaken because my testimony is based on a couple things, including that this church is the true church, has been for the entire time it has been on earth, and will continue to be forever. Which is nice to know.

Thanks for supporting your local and faraway missionaries!

Elder Adams

Sommerset and a Baptism

I could just leave it at that really. Yeah, Elder Egburs and I are staying in Somerset this transfer! I'm glad, I really like the ward here. We might switch up our boundaries a little bit with the sisters though.

It rained twice this week, which was super neat.

Patty got baptized! It was so incredible and spiritual. She practically jumped out of the water, she was so excited. There were a ton of members from the ward there too, it was so cool. She said afterwards that she understood why things kept happening that made it take longer to get baptized- God wanted to make sure she really knew. It was so great. Patty has seriously changed my mission so much, it was so good to see someone who is so excited to learn. She was so sad that we'd have to stop visiting, I told her that we still had to do the recent convert lessons and she can feed the missionaries whenever!

Otherwise this week has been pretty slow. Not much teaching or finding new people. It's okay though. We're working on it, and had a lot going on. On the bright side, ya'll get pictures this week!

(the first three photos he sent were of random crap he'd found in their apartment, so I didn't  put those up--Tonya)

Okay, so here are more pictures! Most of the district (my timer wasn't on), the somerset sisters, us, and Patty. AND the best invention ever. We found these little round lights that light up for 15 seconds when you touch them, so they're jaredite lights.